Effects of Braiding Parameters on Energy Absorption Capability of Triaxially Braided Composite Tubes

Abstract

The effects of two different braiding parameters, the braiding angle and the axial yarn content, on the crush failure characteristics and specific energy absorption capability of two-dimensional (2D) triaxially braided composite circular tubes were studied. Quasi-static axial compression was employed for these crush tests. The crushing appearance and failure modes in the crushing zones were examined by optical microscopy. The results showed that the triaxially braided carbon composite tubes were crushed by a progressive splaying mode. The average width of the splaying fronds increased with increasing braiding angle, but decreased with increasing axial yarn content. The tube with 200 braiding angle showed the highest specific energy absorption among the tubes with various braiding angles. And the tubes using 6k-12k fiber tows as the axial yarn exhibited higher specific energy absorption among the tubes with various axial yarn content.

Numerical and Experimental Investigation of the Hydrostatic Performance of Fibre Reinforced Tubes

“…The effect of braid angle upon energy absorption properties has been the focus of previous research which concluded that among 30 • , 45 • and 60 • braiding angles, 60 • is the braiding angle at which biaxially braided carbon fibre tubes exhibit highest specific energy absorption [21]. The effect of braid angle and axial tow insertion has also been investigated in previous work which reported that the braid angle of 20 • results in the highest specific energy absorption [6]. Biaxial and triaxial braided composites with the same fibre-volume fractions have been compared with biaxial braided composites depicting higher peak load failing in ring-type crushing whilst the triaxial braided composites failing in a lamina bending mode [22].…”

“…Among the most notable work; Karbhari et al highlighted the advantages of 2D braided composite tubes for energy absorption applications by studying different types of fibres, numbers of layers and braid patterns [5]. Chiu et al concluded that braided composite tubes with 20 • angle exhibited advanced energy absorption performance [6]. Chiu et al studied the use of hybrid 2D braided composite tubes reinforced with Kevlar and carbon fibres and identified their crushing modes [7].…”

Simulation Prediction of Crashworthiness Feature of Advanced Composites

“…The research of crash-energy absorption of composite materials and structures began around 1976. Thornton et al reported the excellent energy absorbing capability of fiber reinforced composites [1,2] and gave very useful experimental data such as the influences of fiber orientation, fiber architecture, trigger mechanism, experiment constraints et al [3][4][5][6][7][8]. Experimental results showed that tubes made of glass fiber and carbon fiber has much more specific energy absorption than that made of Kevlar fiber.…”

Effect of aluminum closed-cell foam filling on the quasi-static axial crush performance of glass fiber reinforced polyester composite and aluminum/composite hybrid tubes

“…It was shown that internal splaying absorbed more energy than external splaying in static tests. Chiu et al [17] investigated progressive crushing of biaxially and triaxially braided composite tubes. The average width of splaying fronds increased with increasing braiding angle but decreased with increasing axial yarn content.…”